if we're going to use a car analogy, i think something like an offroad vehicle works better. something that's muddy and scratched up from being driven offroad is cooler than a brand new sparkling range rover. (not to me personally, just making a point)
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How to make your Bass look worn?????
- Thread starter CLMSHQ
- Start date
if we're going to use a car analogy, i think something like an offroad vehicle works better. something that's muddy and scratched up from being driven offroad is cooler than a brand new sparkling range rover. (not to me personally, just making a point)
I like new and I like old. I did not like the pickguard on my cheap SX P-bass, so instead of having a custom made guard for the same price I paid for the bass, I aged the bass and now I'm comfortable with it. On the other hand I have a new American standard P-bass that I didn't like the pickguard on either, but I opted to put a nice mint guard on it and not beat the hell out of it. Each to his own, there is no right, they are my basses, my choices.
The body on this looks great! did u sand down the finish a bit? it *looks old. I love the tasteful wear marks. please elaborate on the process you used.
What I don't understand is why there are so many, or even just a few people who can't understand how someone can like something they don't or vice versa. I am not interested in relics or road worn or whatever but others are. See how easy that is?! Carry on. 
I play in a classic rock band and want that worn look to a P-Bass.
Do you use a stripper or a certain grade of sand paper for worn spots? Then a laquer...I don't know.
Has anyone done this and can show me pics?
Thanks!
Many thanks to everyone who actually read the original post for the thread "How to make your Bass look worn?????" and commented on it in kind. Opinions on the matter should be restricted to the topic at hand, which does NOT include being for or against the relic process.
Seriously.
If you can't keep it on-topic, take it to another thread.
To reiterate the link supplied by LoneStar, OP:
http://www.reranch.com/reranch/viewtopic.php?t=9079&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0
If you want to see a bunch of examples of actual worn instruments, he's also collected some for review:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2009-5/1339667/0
Further, have you tried Google searching any of this? There have been some helpful suggestions thus far but there's a growing wealth of good, clear guidance on this stuff. Also, what kind of bass is it? Is it new? Old? Do you know what kind of finish it has on it?
Well I started by taking some steel wool and deglossing it and the took a pair of pliers and whacked her around a bit and finished off by sanding a little on the contours. I tried to not go overboard, but I figured if I did, I could always strip it and go from there. I know it's a total cosmetic thing but there was just something about that thick shiney black poly and the bright white pickguard that made me cringe. Now I love taking my cheap ass bass out in public. PS, I actually bought this bass used 8 yrs ago, so I think it is almost a vintage SX. HaHa.
I am unsure if this has been said already...didn't read the whole thread....
How to make it look worn is to play the hell out of it for 20 years....
Or start with a 10 - 20 year old used bass....
I am not being a wise guy....sure there is a lot of info on how to relic a bass here, but the proper way, IMHO.....well, I said it already...
Let your playing impress the people, not your gear....again, IMHO...
Well, I skirted the issue a bit with this post....but playing a bass for 20 years will make it look worn.....
How to make it look worn is to play the hell out of it for 20 years....
Or start with a 10 - 20 year old used bass....
I am not being a wise guy....sure there is a lot of info on how to relic a bass here, but the proper way, IMHO.....well, I said it already...
Let your playing impress the people, not your gear....again, IMHO...
Well, I skirted the issue a bit with this post....but playing a bass for 20 years will make it look worn.....
well my first bass was pretty reliced after I let a couple of my stupid friends borrow it. One put the bass in a duffel bag and carried it on the bus and the train, banging it everywhere, and the other's sweat ate everything that was chromed
How? Give it to me with a bottle of Crown or Makers Mark for light relic. Couple bottles for a couple weekends, heavy relic. Too much past that is kindling.
Seriously, I can dig the look. I ain't got no issuesn with folks that dig it.
Seriously, I can dig the look. I ain't got no issuesn with folks that dig it.
If you want insta-Road Worn; try taking the bass apart, throw all the parts in the clothes dryer with 2 shovel fulls or gravel, tumble on low setting for 7 minutes. Use high hest for 20 minutes for finish checking...if desired.
Remove bass parts from dryer (clean out dryer so you don't upset Mom, GF, or wife), re-assemble bass parts
and start playing.
Remove bass parts from dryer (clean out dryer so you don't upset Mom, GF, or wife), re-assemble bass parts
and start playing.
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
- Jan 21, 2006
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+1
Who is impressed by gear?
Envious of a great instrument or rig--perhaps, but if the music isn't there, I don't care how much shine your fancy bass has, I'm gone.
Well, I skirted the issue a bit with this post....but playing a bass for 20 years will make it look worn.....
Nah, man. Good stuff.
How? Give it to me with a bottle of Crown or Makers Mark for light relic. Couple bottles for a couple weekends, heavy relic. Too much past that is kindling.
Haha. Dude. Seriously. What about some Cobra for grins?
Thread closed. Win. Right there.
I play in a classic rock band and want that worn look to a P-Bass.
Do you use a stripper or a certain grade of sand paper for worn spots? Then a laquer...I don't know.
Has anyone done this and can show me pics?
Thanks!
I didn't read the whole thread because I have an idea of how it went
What I would say is this:
Strap on your bass and pay particular attention to where your arms rest and pay attention to where you play most on the neck. Mark those spots and take some sandpaper to them. You could probably start off with a rough grit like 100 to wear down certain areas and then go to work with some lighter grit to blend in and smooth out. You want to make it look like you played it for 20 years so to be authentic you should make it so that it feels good to you and accurately portrays what it would look like if you had played it every night for 20 years. Make sense?
Drop it a couple times, bang the headstock into some stuff and play a couple shows with a belt buckle and it should be pretty solid. I'd keep the hardware fresh though, I don't think rusty hardware proves anything other than you don't maintain your instrument.
Dan
I am unsure if this has been said already...didn't read the whole thread....
How to make it look worn is to play the hell out of it for 20 years....
Or start with a 10 - 20 year old used bass....
I am not being a wise guy....sure there is a lot of info on how to relic a bass here, but the proper way, IMHO.....well, I said it already...
Let your playing impress the people, not your gear....again, IMHO...
Well, I skirted the issue a bit with this post....but playing a bass for 20 years will make it look worn.....
+1
I attended many, many concerts in the early to mid '70s "classic rock" era, and guess what? Most of the basses I saw being played were nice and shiny then! Sure there were exceptions (Noel Redding, etc.), but most looked new and flashy. I think there's a disconnect among many younger bassists today that think this was part of "the look" back then. It just wasn't.
Nobody cares about the look back then. They care about what basses from back then look today. I'm not sure why so many people have to chime in with their comments that aren't related to what he's asking? I personally don't like the relic craze but he's a working musician in a band that is going for a certain look. If you don't like the relic stuff and don't want to help out, don't click that little "post reply" button; move along.
